Living without a permanent address or mortgage for a decade, Kristin Hanes and her partner split their time between a camper van in the United States and a sailboat in Mexico, according to a report published by Il Messaggero.
The nomadic lifestyle began in 2015 when Hanes and her partner moved into a Toyota Prius to escape soaring rents in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since those early days in the car, their living arrangements evolved to match the seasons.
They now spend summers inside a Sprinter camper van traveling across the United States. Winters are spent aboard a sailboat in Mexico.
“Vivrò così finché mi renderà felice,” Hanes told Il Messaggero, which translates to living this way as long as it makes her happy. For them, the arrangement offers freedom from mortgages, fixed addresses, and daily routines, though it brings distinct logistical hurdles.
Hanes washes daily by heating water on a stove for a solar shower or by visiting a gym. On the sailboat, she has access to a marine head, but frequently bathes using boiled seawater. “I miei capelli non sono mai stati così belli,” she joked to Il Messaggero about her hair condition.
Managing human waste proves more complicated. The camper van lacks a built-in toilet, prompting the couple to use public facilities, dig catholes in isolated areas following “Leave No Trace” principles, or use a urine container at night. On the sailboat, holding tanks must be periodically emptied in accordance with regional marine discharge regulations.
| Season | Primary Vehicle | Geographic Region | Sanitation Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Sprinter Camper Van | United States | Public restrooms, gym facilities, solar showers |
| Winter | Sailboat | Mexico | Marine head, boiled seawater rinses |
After ten years of nomadism, Hanes admits to missing hot baths, laundry appliances, a spacious kitchen, and a place to host guests. To bridge the gap, she occasionally visits thermal springs and books hotel rooms.
Long passages on the water present physical endurance tests, involving night watches lasting four to six hours. Their most recent passage along the Baja California peninsula lasted six days, with future plans pointing toward a non-stop voyage from Mexico to French Polynesia lasting twenty to twenty-five days.
Despite the challenges, Hanes continues working online from boatyards, mountain campgrounds, and foreign cities. “Sono davvero grata di poter scegliere come vivere,” she told Il Messaggero. Even so, she acknowledges a growing desire for a small cabin or fixed base to return to for a few months each year.
- Il Messaggero: “Abbiamo lasciato la casa in affitto, da 10 anni viviamo tra una barca a vela e un camper”
